The dome debate: Coaches have mixed feelings on location of soccer finals

Wednesday

Oct 29, 2008 at 2:00 AM

S.S. Seward coach Bill Steele brings a football-like intensity to the game of futbol.

Justin Rodriguez

S.S. Seward coach Bill Steele brings a football-like intensity to the game of futbol.

So you know Steele's pumped for Seward's Section 9 Class D boys' soccer championship against The Family School on Wednesday.

As for the venue, the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, well, Steele and several other Section 9 coaches who routinely play in the finals aren't enthused about the plush, 92,000-square-foot facility.

They say the field is too narrow, the lighting poor, the fans too close to the field, and they can't communicate with players across the field because of the acoustics.

"Even the referees agree with us," Steele said. "Hey, it's a wonderful idea, I get it. But the field isn't wide enough and the lighting is terrible. I don't understand why they would play on a field that isn't even certified."

Section 9 officials helped bring the boys' and girls' soccer championship games to Milton three years ago. One of the biggest selling points was, of course, the sparkling dome. Officials, coaches, players and fans don't have to worry about the bad weather — the kind that hit the region Tuesday — that has held up past tournaments.

However, several coaches have groaned about the dome since it was rolled out as a venue.

"I'm not happy with it," said Newburgh Free Academy coach Matt Iorlano. "To be honest, I think it's horrible for the game."

Goshen coach Mike Kelly said he and his players would prefer to kick it outside. However, fans at the school love the experience, always asking Kelly and his charges: "When is your next game at the dome?"

"But it's really not a great place to play," Kelly said. "It's kind of a pain as a coach. You can't communicate with your players on the field. It's like what you are saying bounces back and they can't hear you. It's frustrating and then you have to make a substitution to get them out just to talk to them."

Cornwall boys' coach John Mandia said the venue has pros and cons.

"I don't like the lighting and I was afraid some balls would get caught in the ceiling in last year's final," he said. "I'd rather play outside in the elements. But I'm starting to not like the cold so much. I like that I was inside and able to wear just a sweat suit."

Most coaches' biggest gripe with the dome — regarded as one of the top facilities in the area — is the width of the artificial turf field. Iorlano said a lack of space horizontally hurt Newburgh in last year's upset loss to Warwick in the Class AA championship. According to Iorlano, Warwick loaded up the penalty box in front of the goal with defenders, slowing down Newburgh's quick attack with the help of the tight field.

Warwick coach John Van Pelt said he'd prefer to play outdoors due to better lighting and no ceilings, but doesn't subscribe to Iorlano's theory.

"I think that takes away from our kids," Van Pelt said. "We both played on the same field. It doesn't matter the size of the field. We play on one of the biggest fields in Section 9, so that should have hurt us, too."

The National Federation of State High School Associations states a high school field must be between 100 and 120 yards long and 55 and 80 yards wide. Nick Pizza, owner of the Sports Dome, said the soccer field facility is lined at 120 yards by 66 yards.

"Sixty-six yards? No way," Iorlano said. "Maybe 56. There's no way it's 66, unless they took the bleachers out. Maybe the whole dome is 66."

Added Steele: "It might be 66 if you count all the way to the sideline where the coach is standing off the field. I've measured it out myself, walking it, it's 58 or 59."

Although the Sports Dome has touched a nerve with boys' coaches, Section 9 girls' coaches are more supportive of it.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for local soccer," said Highland girls' coach Pete Harris, whose team played two games in the Sports Dome at last week's Mid-Hudson Athletic League tournament. "It's like when football players go to Dietz, they feel like they accomplished something. I understand coaches have complaints. They complain about the length, that there is no wind, but I never hear about the kids. That's interesting to me."

Added S.S. Seward girls' coach Joe DiMattina: "I don't blame the boys' coaches for being a little upset. They will tell you that they are a lot faster and stronger, blah, blah, blah. That there is a difference between boys and girls playing inside. For me, I don't mind playing inside. But I'd rather play outside."

Coaches such as Iorlano and Steele continue to pressure Section 9 boys' soccer co-chairmen Pete Ferguson and Tony Martelli about leaving the Sports Dome. Now they have more ammunition, with Middletown High and Newburgh putting down brand-new artificial-turf fields this year.

Ferguson said that he, Martelli, Section 9 girls' soccer chairman Diane Wanser and Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association coordinator Jim Osborne choose championship venues on a yearly basis. According to Ferguson, they will discuss the Sports Dome and other venues for next season in the coming months.

"I don't think they will be at the Sports Dome next year," Steele said. "At least, that's what I'm hearing from a lot of athletic directors. I think you might be able to play there if you want, but I don't want any part of it."

jrodriguez@th-record.com

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